Nov 29, 2012

In certain states in America a misdemeanor in laymen’s
terms is stealing a cookie out of the jar. A felony is eating the cookie. That’s
the concept. An infraction is a
traffic fine. When you speed on the highway it is a misdemeanor, you pay the
fine and that’s that. When you speed on the highway and someone is killed as a
result of your reckless driving it is vehicular
assault and you spend time in jail; it’s a felony. Got it? The functional difference between the two rests
with the penalty and the ‘power of imprisonment’. It is not whether someone
convicted of a particular crime must be punished by a specific time in jail,
but whether the person may be punished for a certain length of time or in a
specific type of prison.

Punishment

In certain states all crimes punishable by death are
felonies. In States such as New York, Rhode Island and New Hampshire a crime is
a felony if it is punishable by more than a year in jail. In Arizona and
Wisconsin a crime is a felony punishable by imprisonment in a state prison or penitentiary. A misdemeanor is usually a crime punishable
for a year or less in prison or only in a county jail.

Possession of a small
quantity of weed a misdemeanor

There is also a wobbler. Some states also have alternative
felony/misdemeanor crimes. A wobbler is a crime that can be charged as a felony
or a misdemeanor based on circumstances and can be reduced to misdemeanor by a
sentencing court. For instance, if you are found with a small bit of marijuana
it might be a misdemeanor, but being in possession of a kilo of weed might lead
to felony charges based on the volume of the drug.

In the procedural prosecution of felonies and misdemeanors there are not many
differences. The government brings some sort of formal charges against you and
accord you due process of law. The state follows more formal procedures to
prosecute for a felony.

Lose the right to
vote

Being convicted of a felony can have serious repercussions.
You get a longer sentence, you lose the right to possess a firearm and hunting
or fishing licenses. In some states you also lose the right to vote. You also
have to disclose your status when applying for a job. A repeat felon faces much
harder punishments especially where three-strike
laws are in place. Go online for more information on felonies and
misdemeanors in the United States.

There definitely is. A good example of this are artists who are
brave and daring in their ideas and are made up of individuals who have the
audacity to express themselves mentally in full regalia. Axel Rose in his
mega-crowd performances for instance becomes almost manic as he loses control
and just throws himself into the crowd – Janis Joplin the rock ‘n roll singer who
succumbed to drugs at the age of 27 – Freddy Mercury of Queen who became a legend – Jimi Hendrix with his alpha guitar.
These are but a handful of musicians and artists who suffered from their own
mix of talent and genius and ended up taking drugs. Drugs took the pain away,
it made them forget.

The heyday of the
Sixties

In the old days artists were called drug addicts but there are
many writers, singers, comedians and others who suffer from a bipolar disorder.
People do not like the word ‘mental’ but it is a mental disease – a mood
disorder that includes manic, depressed and mixed episodes. It is the most
common of all mental disorders because of the occurrence rate of depression.
Here is what you should know about mood, manic, and depressed episodes:

·A mood disorder characterized by disturbances in
physical, emotional and behavioural patterns which can range from elation to
extreme depression with a potential for suicide.

·A manic episode characterized by an unusual
elevated mood or one of extreme agitation. The person has grandiose ideas about
his importance and power. He may jump from topic to topic and make everyone
around him crazy. The person is jacked up and speaks rapidly and in severe
cases may see or hear things others do not.

·Sadness, thoughts of worthlessness, feeling
empty, crying all the time, difficult concentration and an inability to sleep;
they are unable to socialize with others and is obsessed with thoughts of death
and dying. Feeling sad and depressed all the time is not good and should be
treated. According to one sufferer having a bipolar disorder is like an endless
roller coaster.

Treating bipolar
disorder

Seek treatment right away. The earlier you start the process,
the better. Effective bipolar treatment relieves symptoms, reduces the
frequency and intensity of mood swings and you need not suffer discomfort.
Having said that, go online and learn all you can about the disorder and
appropriate treatment. Follow the doctor’s instructions. Your best bet for
bipolar treatment is a psychiatrist who is qualified and can recommend
medication.